Weather: Grass fires double as London braces for another sweltering weekend

Hot stuff: People enjoy the sun on the dried out grass in St James's Park

London is set for another scorching weekend as Britain continues to enjoy its longest heatwave for seven years.

Shoppers have raided department stores for parasols, fans and portable air conditioning units as Londoners brace themselves for the sweltering temperatures to continue. John Lewis reported record sales of sun tan lotion across the country this week after the hottest day of the year on Wednesday, with the mercury hitting 32.2C in the capital.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) says it has dealt with twice as many grass fires in this summer’s heatwave compared with last year. Yesterday a blaze burned through grass and gorse the equivalent of four football pitches in Mitcham, south London, before it was brought under control.

The Met Office said it could become even more stifling next week in London, becoming more humid and temperatures predicted to rise above 30C.

Met Office Forecaster Alexander Burkill said: “It’s going to stay hot and dry and it’s going to be very warm going into next week, with temperatures likely to be in the low 30Cs. It’s going to be slightly more humid too meaning there will be risk of showers.”